Full FeedCheap Trick goes retro, brings back the 8-track
We, here at Gadgetell, spend quite a bit of time focusing on the latest and greatest technologies. However every once in a while we see a little technology throwback that is just to good to pass up. In this instance the story involves rock band Cheap Trick going retro with the release of their latest album. They are offering it on 8-track. And with that I am sure I have either summoned up a nice memory of the past for some readers as well as left some readers wondering what exactly an 8-track is. So, before I go any further, according to Wikipedia, the 8-track is defined as:
“Stereo 8, commonly known as the eight-track cartridge, eight-track tape, or eight-track, is a magnetic tape sound recording technology, popular from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s.”
Of course, in a little simpler description, the 8-track offered a way to listen to music. Essentially it is similar to an LP, cassette tape and later the CD—of course, the 8-track (for most people) has been dead for a long time and even when it was regularly available it was big and clunky. Anyway, we are sliding off track here.
Getting back to Cheap Trick, their latest album, which is titled just that, “The Latest,” will be offering a limited availability on 8-track. The album is being released on Cheap Trick’s own label, which may explain why they are getting away with this, and according to the original article, the 8-track is “expensive to make” which means they are expected to sell to the public for somewhere in the ballpark of $30.
I am sure they will sell a few to those who just want an excuse to use that 8-track player that has been sitting in the garage, attic, or basement for way longer than it should have.
Personally, I prefer digital tracks, however I can also understand the allure of vinyl, as it does offer a nice sound. That said, I cannot understand going retro for the 8-track. Thankfully, the Cheap Trick album will also be available on CD as well as vinyl. Finally, I think it is safe to say that if they choose to release a music video for this album, they should do so on BetaMax, just to really complete the retro throwback.
Read [The Globe and Mail] Via [boing boing]
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This was a really good idea for Cheap Trick, unfortunately it was already done within the past year! I work at Invisible Records in Chicago with Martin Atkins. When his band Pigface decided to release their latest album 6 on 8-track about 7 months ago he had to make all the tapes by hand! From what I saw it was quite the process…
You can check out the video announcement for the 8-track here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoKkdji75-k) . Maybe it’s a coincidence that both these bands had the same idea, but I think something must be in the water in Northern Illinois that’s making all these bands make CRAZY decisions.
It is cool that this is stirring up some 8-track nostalgia, it’s nice to hear everybody talking about their old favorites.
on July 16, 2009 at 05:15 PM - LINK